Joana's POV
I stood in front of Dire, my heart racing. This wasn't just strange, it was straight-up abduction. But the way he acted, the smile he gave, and the casual gestures, it felt normal to him. His authority was unquestionable, yet he masked it under a layer of disturbing niceness. It was unsettling.
I had to get out.
"I want to leave." I said, forcing a smile. I tried to keep my voice steady, trying not to let him see how terrified I really was.
Dire raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a smile as if I had just made an amusing request.
"Of course, wife. You may leave whenever you want." He said smoothly. "But do make sure you're back by nine. You wouldn't want to miss our evening together, now, would you?"
The way he said "wife" sent a shiver down my spine. His tone was too casual, too calm, and it only made the fear inside me grow. I wanted to snap at him, to lash out, but I couldn't. Not yet. The fear held my tongue, so instead, I nodded and excused myself to go get ready.
In the bathroom, I tried to collect myself, splashing cold water on my face.
"Keep it together, Joana." I muttered to my reflection. I had to act fast. I had a plan forming in my head, and I couldn't afford to mess it up. This was about survival, not just for me but for everything my father built.
I texted Lucien while getting dressed.
-Emergency meeting. I need your help as soon as possible.*-
Lucien was my only ally, the one person I could trust. If anyone could help me navigate this madness, it was him. I had a plan to overthrow Dire from the company, and I needed Lucien's support to get the key shareholders on board.
Within minutes, Lucien responded.
-Are you sure about this? This is dangerous, Jo.-
Dangerous? It was insane. But what choice did I have?
"My life is already a disaster." I muttered under my breath, texting him back.
-Meet me in an hour. We need to move fast.-
I dressed quickly, keeping up the appearance of someone in control, though I felt like I was falling apart inside. Before I left, Dire appeared in the doorway, looking too calm for my comfort.
"You look very beautiful." He said, his voice so soft it sent goosebumps crawling up my skin. "Don't forget to come home on time."
There was that word again. Home. This wasn't home. It never would be.
I gave him a tight smile.
"Of course." I replied, slipping past him. My heart was pounding, but I couldn't show it. I had to appear composed, like nothing was wrong.
I drove straight to the office building where Lucien had called the meeting. It was in a private room, far from Dire's usual surveillance. When I entered, Lucien stood waiting with three of the highest shareholders. I could tell from their faces they were skeptical. They probably thought I was some grieving daughter looking to cause trouble.
"Thank you all for meeting with me." I began, taking a deep breath. "I'll get straight to the point. The company is mine. As we know, my father left it to me, not Dire. We need to remove him from power before he drags it all down."
There was silence. Then one of the shareholders, Mr. Caldwell, spoke up.
"Your father made the deal with Dire for a reason. Why should we break that arrangement now?"
I expected this question.
"My father didn't understand what he was getting into with Dire. Whatever agreement they had, it was forced upon him. You all know that under Dire's control, the company is being run into the ground. We need a leader who actually cares about its future, not just about consolidating power for his own gain."
Lucien jumped in to back me up.
"Joana's right. Dire's already made several questionable decisions that are hurting the company. If we wait any longer, it could be too late."
The conversation went back and forth, arguments flying from both sides. It felt like an eternity before the shareholders began to see reason. Slowly, one by one, they nodded in agreement. Relief washed over me as we were on the verge of sealing the deal. Just a signature, a handshake, and it would be done.
But then, just as I thought we had succeeded, the door to the meeting room swung open.
There he was. Dire.
He walked in with that same infuriating smile, looking completely at ease.
"Why wasn't I invited to this little gathering?" His voice was calm, but there was something dangerous simmering underneath.
My stomach churned as a thousand question crashed my mind.
I put on a submissive smile and walked up to his side. "Business matters, honey. Nothing you need to worry about."
His eyes scanned the room, gawking at the shareholders, Lucien, and finally settling on me.
"Oh, but I think I should be involved in all business matters, don't you?"
I turned to Lucien, who looked just as tense as I felt. The shareholders shifted uncomfortably in their seats, clearly not expecting this confrontation. I had no idea how Dire had found out about the meeting but I was going to achieve my objective anyways.
"We were just discussing how to _ improve things." I said, forcing a smile."I wanted to get their input on a few ideas I had."
Dire's grin widened, but his eyes remained cold.
"How thoughtful of you, wife. Always looking out for the company. But next time, don't forget to include me." His gaze pierced through mine, and I knew he wasn't fooled. Not for a second.
He turned to the shareholders.
"Gentlemen, I'll take it from here. My wife has other matters to attend to." His tone left no room for argument.
I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could get a word out, Dire stepped forward and gently took my arm.
"Come, Joana." He whispered, his voice dripping with false sweetness. "Let's go home."
I wanted to scream, to fight back, but there was something about the way he said it that froze me in place. He wasn't asking. He was commanding.
As we walked out of the meeting room, I felt Lucien's eyes on me. I had no idea what was going to happen next but my fate was in the hands of a madman.